🚨 GUILTY: Former college football player Blaise Taylor has been convicted of murdering his pregnant girlfriend. 😳 A jury found Taylor guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Jade Benning, along with the death of her unborn child. But one piece of evidence prosecutors presented in court is still leaving people stunned

Former College Football Player Blaise Taylor Found Guilty of Murdering His Pregnant Girlfriend

Taylor was also found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and first-degree felony murder during the commission of a felony in the death of an unborn child

NEED TO KNOW

Former college football player and Tennessee Titans scout Blaise Taylor was convicted on multiple murder charges in the killing of his girlfriend, Jade Benning, and her unborn child
During the eight-day trial, prosecutors alleged that Taylor spiked Jade Benning’s drink to prevent her from giving birth
The verdict came less than three hours after the closing arguments were delivered, and Taylor now faces a potential life sentence

Blaise Taylor has been found guilty in the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Jade Benning.

A Nashville jury found the former Tennessee Titans scout guilty on all four charges after an eight-day trial on Wednesday, July 1, according to court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

Taylor was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree felony murder during the commission of a felony in Benning’s death, and first-degree premeditated murder and first-degree felony murder during the commission of a felony in the death of their unborn child.

The verdict came less than three hours after the closing arguments were delivered, according to USA Today. Taylor, 30, now faces a potential sentence of life in prison.

Taylor’s attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins said that her client intended to appeal the verdict in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

“While we respect the jury system and the process, we must also respectfully disagree with today’s verdict and plan to appeal the decision because Blaise did not do this,” Quinones-Hollins said. “He maintains that he is innocent and we will continue working to prove that. We understand and respect the pain that Ms. Benning’s family and friends feel over her tragic death and the death of her unborn baby, but putting an innocent man behind bars is also a tragedy.”

Jade Benning.Facebook

The former Arkansas State University athlete was first arrested in March 2024 on suspicion of poisoning Benning and her unborn child. The fatal incident occurred on Feb. 25, 2023. At the time, Taylor called 911 around 9:38 p.m., requesting medical assistance for his girlfriend, who was five months pregnant.

On the call, he said that she was having an allergic reaction.

When emergency responders arrived, Benning was found without a pulse, face down across a bed. She was rushed from her Nashville apartment to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Benning was admitted, but in critical condition, unable to speak with the authorities.

She had severe brain damage, and her unborn child had a low heart rate after arriving at the hospital, a Vanderbilt physician testified. Benning’s unborn child died two days later, per WZTV and WKRN. Benning died shortly after, on her 25th birthday on March 6, 2023.

Benning’s cause of death was a fatal combination of a large amount of cocaine dissolved in alcohol, medical examiners testified during Taylor’s trial.

It was also revealed during the trial that Taylor allegedly spiked her pink lemonade with a mixture of cocaine dissolved in alcohol, prosecutors claimed. They alleged that Taylor didn’t want her to give birth to their child, which was believed to be his, per WZTV.

Ahead of the trial, during the April 2024 bond hearing, Benning’s friend, Nijaiha Jackson, claimed that Benning told Taylor she suspected her drink tasted different. Jackson recalled overhearing Benning talking to her boyfriend just before she became violently ill. “She was saying, ‘My drink tasted funny, I can’t even walk straight, you did this to do something to the baby,’ ” Jackson said at the hearing, per News Channel 5.

Prosecutors argued during the hearing that the murders were premeditated, as a cup that was in front of Benning in a photo was missing when police searched the scene.

“It appeared there had been some cleanup done,” homicide detective Adam Reese explained during his testimony. “It’s not a spur-of-a-moment type of thing to put drugs in someone’s beverage.”

Blaise Taylor during the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on January 20, 2018 in Pasadena, CA.Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Meanwhile, during the trial, Taylor’s attorneys claimed Benning’s death was not the result of intentional poisoning, but an overdose caused by her own drug use, per WZTV. His attorneys questioned witnesses about her recreational use of marijuana and alcohol, highlighting a testimony that suggested she didn’t directly reject an offer for a marijuana gummy while pregnant.

PEOPLE reached out to Taylor’s attorney, Joshua Brand, and Nashville Assistant District Attorney Jan Norman for comment.

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